How to Make MS joystick work/has anyone used it in past?

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by russell

Its doable (assuming the RC is fast enough) but you are going to need a serious software genius.

The OI will only send the button values to the RC 40 times per second, so it's not doable. The data coming from the joystick over the button inputs will be changing much faster than that.

[KVermilion]

Originally Posted by Dave Flowerday

The OI will only send the button values to the RC 40 times per second, so it's not doable. The data coming from the joystick over the button inputs will be changing much faster than that.

It's Definatly doable... in hardware!

Allot of DAC work

[Max Lobovsky]

Can you legally put that stuff on the OI end? What are the restrictions on whats inputting to the OI?

[KVermilion]

Originally Posted by Max Lobovsky

Can you legally put that stuff on the OI end? What are the restrictions on whats inputting to the OI?

AFAIK as long as you don't use any external power sources, or emmit any light... it's ok

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Max Lobovsky

Can you legally put that stuff on the OI end? What are the restrictions on whats inputting to the OI?

<R69> says that any device connected to the joystick port must be only powered through the joystick port.

[jgannon]

Originally Posted by KVermilion

AFAIK as long as you don't [...] emmit any light

Actually, there are pins set aside on the controller ports specifically for hooking up LEDs. It's all documented in the OI guide.

[KVermilion]

Originally Posted by jgannon

Actually, there are pins set aside on the controller ports specifically for hooking up LEDs. It's all documented in the OI guide.

Well.... those are specificly exempt, right? or are you saying... "you can use a 20 million candle power spotlight"?

Oh yeah, hooking up a "computer" to the joystick ports is also not allowed.

[jgannon]

Originally Posted by KVermilion

Well.... those are specificly exempt, right? or are you saying... "you can use a 20 million candle power spotlight"?

If you read the Operator Interface manual, it says that the LED pins provide 5V at 10mA. The rules don't appear to say what you can and can't connect there (except for a computer), but the current restrictions seem to limit you to LEDs. (Well, unless you have a 20mil candela lamp that only draws 10mA... I'd buy one. )

[KVermilion]

Originally Posted by jgannon

If you read the Operator Interface manual, it says that the LED pins provide 5V at 10mA. The rules don't appear to say what you can and can't connect there (except for a computer), but the current restrictions seem to limit you to LEDs. (Well, unless you have a 20mil candela lamp that only draws 10mA... I'd buy one. )

Well... technically, if it runs on the computer's battery....

[seanwitte]

Write a Windows application to collect user inputs from your interface device. Format the data and push it to the mini-RC via the serial port. Use the 8 PWM outputs on the mini-RC to drive servos coupled to 100k pots via gears. Connect the pots to OI inputs. Pots are not electrically connected to the OI and would have their own power supply. But is it legal?

[Pat Fairbank]

Originally Posted by seanwitte

Write a Windows application to collect user inputs from your interface device. Format the data and push it to the mini-RC via the serial port. Use the 8 PWM outputs on the mini-RC to drive servos coupled to 100k pots via gears. Connect the pots to OI inputs. Pots are not electrically connected to the OI and would have their own power supply. But is it legal?

AFAIK there is no specific rule prohibiting this. But the spirit of the rule that prohibits the connecting of laptops to the joystick ports is that a PC or PDA is not allowed to control the robot. So, judging by the spirit of the rule, it is definitely not legal.